Portsmouth's Hughes: Redknapp out-coached Chelsea boss Grant

The Scottish midfielder told The News: "The manager wanted to play the diamond system and rightly so. We believed we could try to nullify them as best as we could and still be a threat to them.

"The result was definitely the best we've played against Chelsea and our second Premier League goal against them. Lassana was at the base of it and Niko at the point and it's a system the manager felt suits the players we have - and he was proven correct.

"We were a constant threat and it made it an enjoyable game. We wanted to win this and we believed we could. A draw was perhaps a fair result because they were very good at creating chances although perhaps we had the better of them.

"For those playing the left and right of the midfield in the diamond system it is hard work, as Sean and I found out. You have to give enough cover to Lass and not to leave him on his own in midfield and also try to stop the full-backs coming on because that can be a problem.

"We managed to deal with it reasonably well. It's a system the manager wanted to look at and I think it worked."